April 29, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces the following new hires to the prosecutorial staff of the District Attorney’s Office for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit (BJC).

DA Higgins welcomes Whitney J. Fetzer Gregory to the BJC to assume the duties as Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney responsible for the Glynn County office. Deputy Chief Gregory comes to the BJC from the Eastern Judicial Circuit in Savannah where she also served as a Deputy Chief ADA over the Special Victims Unit. In that capacity, her caseload included adult rapes and sexual assaults, complex domestic violence cases, complex murders, child murders and domestic- and sex-related murders. Previously, Deputy Chief Gregory worked for the Commonwealth Attorney and for the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Fairfax County, VA and for the federal government as an auditor/certified fraud examiner. One of Deputy Chief Gregory’s many notable prosecutions include a First-Degree Murder (x2) case in VA where the defendant used a .22 caliber rifle to shoot and kill, in cold blood, her mother and sister in their own home, and then staged it to look like a murder-suicide. The motivation was greed, and the defendant was found guilty following a four-week trial and sentenced to two life sentences plus eight years. Deputy Chief Gregory received her Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the George Mason University – Antonin Scalia Law School, Arlington, VA; her Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in Accounting with a Minor in Economics, from George Mason University, Fairfax, VA; and attended the University of Oxford, Oxford, England, UK, in the Oxford Honours Programme for Undergraduate Studies, Economics.

DA Higgins welcomes Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Melanie Fenley to the staff of the Glynn County office of the BJC. ADA Fenley received her Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Indiana University (Southeast). ADA Fenley previously prosecuted all types of felony crimes in the Eastern Judicial Circuit in Savannah prior to coming to the BJC, and prior to that she worked in private practice litigating workers compensation claims.

DA Higgins welcomes Assistant District Attorney Sean P. O’Brien to the staff of the Camden County office of the BJC. ADA O’Brien received his Juris Doctorate from the George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, VA, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government, with a Minor in Economics, from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. ADA O’Brien previously worked as a Major Crimes Prosecutor in the Eastern Judicial Circuit in Savannah. As such, he prosecuted violent crimes which included murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault, home invasion and other violent felonies. ADA O’Brien also worked for the Commonwealth Attorney in Fairfax, VA, in private practice as a defense counsel, and in his own firm.

DA Higgins welcomes Assistant District Attorney Mark J. Blount to the staff of the Appling County/Jeff Davis County Office of the BJC. ADA Blount received his Juris Doctorate from the Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC, and he also attended the University of Michigan Law School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH. ADA Blount is barred in Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee and is a founding partner in his own law firm.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.

April 29, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces the retirement of the following senior staff members of the Appling-Jeff Davis Office of the District Attorney’s Office for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit.

Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Jan Kennedy retired after serving over 27 years as a prosecutor in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit. ADA Kennedy served as the Managing Attorney in the Appling-Jeff Davis Office for many years and was named Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney under DA Higgins in February 2021 until April 2023. ADA Kennedy was initially hired as an Assistant District Attorney in February of 1997, under then District Attorney, now Honorable Judge Stephen D. Kelley. ADA Kennedy received her Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina in 1990, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southern College in 1985, and she was a cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia in 1978, receiving her Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science in 1978.

Legal Assistant (LA) Glenda Sue Spell retired after serving almost 26 years with the District Attorney’s Office. LA Spell started her career as a secretary in 1998 under (then) District Attorney Stephen D. Kelley. Over the years, the position and title changed, and encompassed the duties and responsibilities of a legal assistant. In that capacity, LA Spell became an integral part of the Appling-Jeff Davis Office.

A retirement ceremony was hosted by DA Higgins and the Appling-Jeff Davis Office for ADA Kennedy and LA Spell on February 22, 2024, at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room in the Appling Courthouse Annex. Both were presented with plaques commemorating their service from DA Higgins, who also thanked them for their service, professionalism and dedication to the Office of the District Attorney and the people of Appling and Jeff Davis Counties.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.

April 23, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, Erving Lamar Jackson, 31, of Brunswick, GA, was found guilty by a Glynn County jury of Kidnapping with Bodily Injury, Aggravated Assault Family Violence, Battery Family Violence, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jackson was found not guilty of Aggravated Assault Family Violence (Strangulation). The jury deliberated for under one hour before reaching its verdict.

The evidence presented at trial showed that Jackson and the victim, LaQuambia Cliette, had previously been in a romantic relationship. On November 9, 2021, the victim received a call at work from Jackson, asking her to meet him and bring him food. Jackson told the victim that he was leaving town to move to North Carolina. The victim got off work and brought him food. Jackson asked the victim to take him a few places afterwards, which she did. During the evening, Jackson became paranoid. As the victim and Jackson were in the victim’s vehicle parked outside of their old address, Jackson pulled a gun on the victim and threatened to kill her.

Jackson forced the victim to drive several places over the course of several hours. At one point, in the early morning hours of November 10, 2021, near Tara Lane and Altama Avenue in Brunswick, Jackson jerked the steering wheel causing the vehicle to crash. Jackson got on top of the victim and started punching her in the face. Jackson then got out of the vehicle, fired a gunshot at a random vehicle, and proceeded to forcefully pull the victim out of the vehicle, and drag her approximately 50 yards by her shirt up into the yard of a residence on Woodland Way. Jackson then started beating on the door of that residence, which was captured on the residence’s doorbell camera. The camera showed Jackson acting erratic and waving and pointing the firearm he held the victim hostage with throughout the night.

Jackson left the front porch of the residence and threw the firearm in the bushes near the scene of the initial crash, which was later recovered by law enforcement. The victim ran for help after Jackson left the front door, but the resident, not knowing what was going on, held the victim at gunpoint until law enforcement arrived.

Corporal Martin Davis, formerly of the Brunswick Police Department, testified he found the victim lying in the yard of the residence, beaten, her face bloody, and her shirt ripped off. Jackson was arrested at the scene. The victim testified at trial to what occurred and to what she endured at the hands of the defendant.

The case was prosecuted for the State by Assistant District Attorney Leland McElveen, who stated, “Domestic violence is so prevalent in society today. Ms. Cliette showed courage by speaking out at trial against her abuser. The jury returned a verdict that spoke the truth and held a previously three-time convicted felon accountable for his heinous actions and their verdict assured that he will no longer be able to hurt anyone else.”

On April 23, 2024, Jackson was sentenced before Glynn County Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane to a total sentence of Life without Parole plus 45 years under the Georgia Recidivist Act to run consecutive.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.

April 24, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on Monday, April 15, 2024, Sedrick Deshawn Pearman, 35, of Brunswick, GA, was found guilty by a Glynn County jury of Giving False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer, Obstruction of an Officer, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on April 3, 2021, Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) Officer Troy Bergiadis, was patrolling the area of GA 27 and Warren Mason Blvd when he observed a vehicle with suspicious driving behavior. The vehicle eventually pulled into the parking lot of I-95 Liquors. Based on his observations, Officer Bergiadis decided to investigate and have a consensual encounter with the occupants. Officer Bergiadis walked up to the vehicle on the passenger side and knocked on the window. The vehicle was occupied by four individuals. Defendant Pearman was the backseat passenger behind the driver. The driver rolled down the passenger side window, and Officer Bergiadis immediately smelled the strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. GCPD K9 Officer William Duggan arrived on scene to provide backup.

At the time, the officers were just investigating the possible drug activity of which they were now aware due to the odor of marijuana. All occupants stated that there was nothing in the vehicle. Officer Duggan attempted multiple times to get Pearman to provide his full name. Pearman was the only occupant who did not voluntarily provide identification, such as a Georgia driver’s license or ID card.

On body camera footage shown at trial, Officer Duggan asked Pearman a total of 8 times to give him his name, and Pearman finally stated his last name was “James.” Officer Bergiadis had gotten the driver out of the vehicle and secured him with another GCPD officer and had returned to get Pearman out of the vehicle so that the vehicle could be lawfully searched. As Officer Bergiadis opened the rear passenger door, he observed an AK-47 style weapon at the left rear passenger’s (Pearman’s) feet, and yelled, “Gun!” At this point, the other backseat passenger fled on foot and threw a handgun on the ground along his flight path. Due to officer safety, Pearman was taken out of the vehicle, but he began resisting arrest. While on the ground, Pearman continued to resist; he managed to got out of his sweatshirt, which Officer Duggan had a hold of. He then fled on foot and was able to get away from the area. Officer Duggan ran a criminal history on Pearman and discovered he was a convicted felon. Officer Duggan secured three criminal warrants against Pearman, and he was arrested on those warrants in June of 2023.

In the meantime, a search of the suspect vehicle yielded marijuana and several illegal pills found in the center console and in the backseat. A handgun was found underneath the front passenger seat, along with the Century Arms AK-47 7.62 caliber assault pistol with a fully loaded 75-round drum style magazine found at Pearman’s feet. The original magazine was in the seat pocket in front of Pearman with another 26 rounds in it. The officers also searched the path that Pearman fled and discovered a baggie of crack cocaine (he was not charged with an offense related to that).

On April 23, 2024, Pearman was sentenced before Judge Roger B. Lane, in Glynn County Super Court, where he also had his probation revoked. Judge Lane sentenced Pearman to a total of 26 years: 12-years (total for the three charges) in the Georgia Department of Corrections under the Georgia Recidivist Act, to serve consecutive to the 14-year sentence he received for his probation violation.

The case was prosecuted for the State by Assistant District Attorney Leland McElveen, who stated, “Gun Control, no matter which side you are on, is a topic that affects us every day. This jury verdict was gun control in action. Their verdict held a previously five-time convicted felon accountable for possessing a weapon he was not allowed to have and in turn, their verdict was an example of effective gun control.”

McElveen continued, “On behalf of the District Attorney’s Office, I want to thank (now) Detective Bergiadis and Officer William Duggan for their professionalism and excellent work in getting guns and drugs off our streets, which was a result of great proactive policing. Glynn County should be proud to have these law enforcement professionals working in their community.”

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.

April 22, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on Friday, April 19, 2024, Terell Eugene Bacon, 33, of Brunswick, GA, was found guilty by a Glynn County jury of three counts of Child Molestation against a 13-year-old girl. The jury deliberated for one hour before reaching its verdict.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on September 5, 2022, Bacon—who was 31 years old at the time, a married father, and who lived in the same neighborhood as the 13-year-old victim—approached the victim while she was walking her dog in the neighborhood during the evening hours. Bacon took advantage of the fact that the girl had her phone flashlight on, deceitfully using that as a means of asking her to come over to his residence to help him look for something. Bacon seized the opportunity he created to then begin conversing with the 13-year-old victim, grooming her by complimenting her body, and then began to fondle her. Bacon and the victim exchanged phone numbers. Later that evening, the two conversed through text message; Bacon convinced the girl to sneak out of her house after she had “gone to bed,” so her parents wouldn’t know. Bacon met her nearby and picked her up in his vehicle. He drove her to a nearby gas station and then to a nearby county park where he had sexual intercourse with the girl.

The defendant continued to pursue the victim, which was evidenced through text messages and calls throughout the month of September. Bacon convinced the girl on at least two other occasions to meet up and engage in further sexual intercourse.

The victim eventually told her mother and father, and her father notified the police. Glynn County Police Department (GCPD) Detective Anthony Clark was the lead detective assigned to the case, and he set up a forensic interview with the Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center in Brunswick. During the interview, the 13-year-old victim met with forensic interviewer Deja (Moye) Lott and disclosed specific details of what occurred during the sexual abuse.

As part of his investigation, Detective Clark went to the nearby gas station and was able to gather video footage of Bacon and his vehicle on the date and near the time, corroborating what the victim told police.

Detective Clark subsequently took out warrants for Bacon’s arrest. During his post-arrest interview, Bacon downplayed his relationship with the 13-year-old child but made statements such as, “that little girl” and “you know when a girl wants you man.” He first stated the victim never got in his vehicle and then later changed his story. Bacon continued to lie throughout the interview, which was further evidenced by his story changing when confronted with his photo at the gas station. A search of Bacon’s cell phone also showed that he had the victim’s phone number listed in his phone but had changed the contact’s name to a male’s name and deleted the contact and text messages, demonstrating a consciousness of guilt.

Immediately following the jury verdict of guilty on all three counts of Child Molestation, Bacon was sentenced before Glynn County Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane to a total of 60 years with the first 59 years to be served in the Georgia Department of Corrections. This is the maximum sentence allowable by law.

The case was prosecuted for the State by Assistant District Attorney Leland McElveen, who stated, “In today’s society, we tell children to speak out, to come forward, that they will be believed. Today, the jury’s verdict spoke the truth and held Terell Bacon, a 31-year-old predator who preyed on a 13-year-old child, accountable for his actions. I would specifically like to thank GCPD Detective Anthony Clark for his professionalism and excellent investigative work and Deja (Moye) Lott of the Safe Harbor Children’s Center for her passion for victims and her amazing testimony at trial illustrating the child victim’s trauma and disclosure.”

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.

April 17, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on April 16, 2024, an Appling County jury found Bruce Erbertlee Jackson, 35, of Baxley, GA, guilty of two counts of Felony Obstruction of an Officer with Violence.

The evidence presented at trial showed that on April 3, 2021, Stuart Boyer, then an Investigator with the Baxley Police Department (BPD), was patrolling the area of Fair Street in Baxley, GA, assisting in a response to a suspicious person call when he observed a vehicle commit multiple traffic infractions.

Boyer stopped the vehicle and found the defendant, Bruce Erbertlee Jackson, driving the vehicle. Jackson presented a non-governmental identification card identifying himself as “Ausar Tehuti El” and purported himself to be a “Moor American” and thus not subject to the laws of Georgia or the United States. While the defendant was handing the card to Investigator Boyer, the officer observed a Georgia Driver’s License in his wallet. Investigator Boyer requested to see the driver’s license and Jackson refused again stating claims of his sovereign citizenship and arguing that he was not driving, but instead ‘traveling’ and therefore did not need a license.

Jackson continued to argue with the officer and not show his license and began making furtive movements inside the vehicle and refused to keep his hands visible. Investigator Boyer determined that as a safety precaution, Jackson should exit the vehicle and he asked him to do so. Jackson refused, citing his fictious legal claims. BPD Sgt. James Robinson arrived on scene and along with Investigator Boyer, removed Jackson from the vehicle. Jackson fought against the officers and intentionally used his weight to shove them off, elbowing Investigator Boyer in the chest and knocking the wind out of him and pushing Sgt. Robinson into the vehicle, hurting his back. As Jackson fled from the officers his bracelet was caught on Investigator Boyer’s finger which was fractured in the incident leading to two years of pain and permanent damage to the way it bends. Sgt. Robinson was sent to the hospital with back pain and out of work for a week as he recovered.

At trial, Boyer and Robinson testified about the incident. Jackson, representing himself, did not testify on his behalf but did argue in his opening and closing that he did not harm anyone and that he did not need a driver’s license that night due to his alleged foreign citizenship. Assistant District Attorney Hunter Smith, who prosecuted the case for the State, highlighted the fact that a tenant of our judicial system is that all individuals should be treated equally, both in rights, and in obligations and accountability, and that despite Mr. Jackson’s claims of alleged nationality and sovereignty, no one was above the law and outside of the Court’s jurisdiction.

The Appling County jury deliberated for over two hours and found Jackson guilty of two counts of Obstruction of an Officer with Violence. On April 17, 2024, Judge Stephen D. Kelley sentenced Jackson to 10 years, with the first 5 years to be served in the Department of Corrections and the balance on probation. Jackson was also banished from the Brunswick Judicial Circuit (Appling, Camden, Glynn, Jeff Davis, and Wayne Counties).

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.

March 4, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that on March 1, 2024, a Jeff Davis County jury found James Larvelle Smith, 30, of Hazlehurst, GA, guilty of one count of Burglary in the Second Degree.

The facts of this case show that on May 15, 2023, Jeffrey Ellis, an employee of Timmy Taylor, found the defendant, James Smith, in the barn at the property sitting on a Polaris ATV. When confronted, Smith indicated he was there to take the ATV. Ellis called for Taylor, and when Taylor came to the barn, the defendant again indicated he was there to take the ATV as he had purchased it from the previous owner and it belonged to him. Taylor had purchased the ATV from his daughter, so he knew this story could not be true.

Upon checking the security cameras on the property, Smith was seen moving throughout the property, looking into vehicles and into the windows of the house, and trying to open the door. The footage also showed Smith with a duffle bag and entering the barn via the back doors so as not to be seen from the house. Smith was arrested by Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office deputies.

At trial, Smith, who represented himself, testified in his own defense and again told a fabricated story where he claimed to be the owner of the property, but when pressed by ADA Hunter Smith, who prosecuted the case for the State, Smith could provide no details or documentation of such. During his testimony, Smith admitted he went into the barn and had intended to leave the property on the ATV. The jury deliberated for under 15 minutes before convicting Smith of Burglary in the Second Degree.

Smith was subsequently sentenced to 5-years to serve in the Georgia Department of Corrections by Brunswick Circuit Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.

March 4, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Laronse Adriese Chambliss, 21, of Brunswick, GA, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea in Glynn County Superior Court on March 4, 2024, to Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony. Chambliss entered his plea just before the commencement of the trial in his case.

The facts of the case show that on December 28, 2022, the victim in this case was in Brunswick for the evening, when he went on the Grinder App to meet up with another male. The male he contacted directed him to an address on Pine Street in Brunswick. Upon arriving at the location, the victim was approached by two black males wearing face coverings. One of the men opened his passenger side door and pointed a handgun at him and demanded his wallet. The victim then sped away. As he did so, both of men opened fire on his vehicle, striking him once in the shoulder. He was able to get back to his motel and call 911.

Police located twelve shell casings at the crime scene; nine were 22mm rounds and three were 9mm rounds. During the course of the investigation, Chambliss was identified as a suspect in some unrelated cases and was questioned about the December 28th shooting case. He admitted he was present with his co-defendant in this case, who he said was the one that opened the passenger side door and started shooting when the victim fled. After initially denying he had a handgun, Chambliss admitted he had the 9mm and fired at least once shot. He said he assumed his co-defendant intended to rob the victim but denied knowing ahead of time.

Chambliss still has an outstanding armed robbery and home invasion indictment in which he is charged with his co-defendant in this case. He also has an outstanding burglary indictment.

Sentencing is being withheld until the resolution of his remaining cases, as well as those of his co-defendant. Chambliss could face life in prison for the armed robbery charge plus another 25 years for the aggravated assault and gun charges.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.

February 23, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Dayvon Clarence Eaddy, 25, of Kingsland, Georgia, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea in Camden County Superior Court on February 26, 2024, to Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree based on reckless driving. The victim in this case, Michelle Volpe, of Brunswick, Georgia, was 26-years old at the time of her death.

The facts of this case showed that on Sunday afternoon July 12, 2020, around 1:24 pm, a fatal car collision occurred on Saint Mary’s Road near Haddock Road in Camden County. The collision involved a 2006 silver Ford Focus, driven by defendant Dayvon Eaddy, who was 22-years old at the time, and an orange 2019 Chevrolet Camaro driven by the victim, Michelle Volpe. Two passengers were riding with the defendant, a 19-year old in the back seat and a 17-year old individual who was the front seat passenger.

After arriving on the scene, Georgia State Patrol (GSP) Trooper Myles Cooper observed where the Ford had been traveling east on Saint Mary’s Road when it began to rotate and slide through the grass median and into the westbound lanes. After entering the westbound lanes, the Ford struck the Chevrolet Camaro. The Ford and Chevrolet left the roadway and entered the tree line. The driver of the Camaro, Michelle Volpe, died at the scene. The driver of the Ford was transported to the University of Florida Hospital in Jacksonville.

Witness interviews stated the silver Ford was traveling at a high rate of speed prior to impact with the Camaro. One witness, who was also a firefighter assisting at the crash scene, stated that the 17-year front passenger told him that the rear passenger was encouraging the defendant to swerve in and out of traffic.

GSP interviewed the defendant at the hospital, and Eaddy stated he swerved left, out of the right lane to miss something in the roadway and overcorrected his steering wheel. Eaddy agreed to a voluntary blood draw which was negative for alcohol or drugs. During another interview later in July, Eaddy stated he was only driving 55-60 MPH. He felt a jolt and the steering wheel snatched to the left. The car then began to slide sideways into the crash. When GSP interviewed rear passenger, he also stated that Eaddy was going 55-65MPH and lost control when he swerved to miss something in the roadway.

GSP interviewed the 17-year old front passenger who confirmed the statement provided to the witness at the crash scene and stated that the rear passenger was encouraging Eaddy to speed and swerve around other cars. When asked if Eaddy swerved to avoid something in the roadway, the 17-year old said no, that he was swerving around other vehicles and lost control and stated that the speed she observed on the speedometer was 90 MPH.

GSP Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) investigated the collision further and calculated the defendant’s speed at 108 MPH.

Pursuant to the negotiated plea agreement, Eaddy was sentenced to 15 years, serve 8 years in the Georgia Department of Corrections. The sentence was handed down in Camden County Superior Court by Judge Robert W. Guy.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.

February 23, 2024

District Attorney Keith Higgins announces that Neneto Blake, 35, of Auburn, Maine, entered a negotiated guilty plea in Jeff Davis Superior Court on February 26, 2024, to one count of Aggravated Assault and one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

The facts of this case show that on Sunday, October 2, 2022, Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office (JDCSO) Deputy Justin Sanders was dispatched to a residence on Lariat Lane in Hazlehurst, GA, to speak with the complainant, Cortez Eady, regarding an incident that began at church. Various other people, including members of the Eady family, were also standing around the residence when the deputy arrived to speak with Mr. Eady. Eady stated tensions broke out between his son, Dante Eady and the mother of his child, Lanyjah Lane. Threats had been made and Cortez Eady feared someone was going to come to their property. Eady stated he was going to protect his family and household.

While speaking with Cortez Eady, Deputy Sanders observed various individuals from the residence running towards Hwy 341/Saddle Drive. Lanyjah Lane, her sisters, and the defendant, Neneto Blake, who is the boyfriend of one of Lane’s sisters, had driven towards the Eady family property in a white vehicle. While stopped to confront the Eadys, Blake, seated in the back of the white vehicle, produced two firearms, and shot into the crowd of Eady family members. Fortunately, no one was injured during the shooting. The vehicle then fled the scene and was pursued by JDCSO Deputy Sanders. After stopping the vehicle, law enforcement recovered two firearms that had been tossed from the vehicle during the pursuit. A spent 9mm shell casing was also recovered from the vehicle.

Pursuant to his plea agreement, Blake was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 20 years on probation. He was sentenced as a recidivist due to three prior felony convictions in Florida and thus will not be eligible for parole. The sentence was handed down in Brunswick Circuit Superior Court by Judge Roger B. Lane. The driver of the vehicle, Chakkeria Lane, was also charged for her role in assisting Blake in fleeing after the assault. She pled and was sentenced in May of 2023.

Members of the media with further questions may contact the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office at 912-554-7200.